Did you know executive function is the cognitive domain that comprises high-level thinking and decision making? Executive functioning challenges can have a profound effect on one’s daily and social life.
If you or your child are experiencing any of the executive functioning challenges mentioned in our ‘Daily Executive Functioning Challenges’ post (link in our highlights), here are some strategies created by our Occupational Therapy student, FiFi Tang!
Emotional regulation
– Blowing a candle : imagine your little fingers as candles and blow out the candles one at a time. Breathe in and out for 5 times. You will be feeling more relaxed!
– Self-talk: Repeat what your “mission” is until the “mission” has been completed! Verbal reminders can increase focus and attention and reduce external distractions. For example, if your mission is to tie your shoelaces, repeat “tie shoelaces…”
– Emotion potion : Add the appropriate emotions/feelings into your magic bowl. Mix～mix～mix～And you have a happy potion. This helps individuals to identify and understand their own emotions.
Attention
– Distraction umbrella : Open your umbrella when there are too many distractions, and keep them away!
– Listening headphones : imagine wearing a pair of headphones that only focuses on what others are saying.
– Focus goggles : Put on your focus goggles to hone in on a task.
– Record repeater : Press the recording button, and record the instructions with our ears. Press the reply button, and repeat the instructions out loud!
Social skills
– Social bubble : Everyone has a bubble surrounding them, make sure you don’t pop someone else’s bubble. The bubbles can only be combined when consent and permission are gained from both parties.
Planning and executing and problem solving
– Time machine : If you did something wrong, imagine going back in time and think of a way to correct it! If you do not want to make future mistakes, imagine time-travelling forward and think of the possible consequences of your actions!